Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico to compete on day one of the Puerto Rico Clasico against the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Tarzans. A near-perfect first quarter set the tone for the Lions to come away with a 74-25 victory over the Tarzans.
Missouri Southern (6-4) vs. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (0-6)
Quarter 1: Missouri Southern 23 | Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 2
The Lions had a dominant start on both ends of the floor, beginning the game on a 11-0 run and forcing seven Tarzan turnovers throughout the first six minutes of play. After a jumper fell for the Tarzans to score their first points of the game, the Lions would continue to dominate, returning with a 12-0 run and forcing four more Tarzan turnovers.
Kennady Roach led the Lions offensively in the first quarter with six points.
Quarter 2: Missouri Southern 40 | Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 14
Ryan Franklin began the second quarter with five points in the first two and a half minutes as the Lions grew their lead to 30-4 with 7:38 remaining until halftime. The Lions were capped to only 10 points over the remainder of the quarter, but continued to control the game defensively as the Tarzans were limited to 14 total first half points.
Quarter 3: Missouri Southern 58 | Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 22
Both teams traded baskets to open the third quarter of play as the Tarzans narrowed their deficit to 24 points, 44-20, with 6:05 remaining.
Makenna Yokley returned with nine of the Lions 11 points in a 11-1 run to push the Lions lead to 55-21 with 2:27 remaining in the third. The third quarter would end as the Lions led 58-22.
Quarter 4: Missouri Southern 74 | Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 25
Veonce Powell (two free throws) and
Makenna Yokley (layup) combined for the Lions only four points over the first three and half minutes of the final quarter, but contained the Tarzans to only two points during that time. After three points from
Ryan Franklin,
Jacqueline Hall subbed into the game and scored her first three collegiate points with a jumper and a free throw to grow the Lions lead to 68-24 with 3:00 remaining in the game.
Grace Frazier,
Mia Topping and
Ava Pautz all scored a layup in the remaining minutes as the Lions would defeat the Tarzans, 74-25.
Missouri Southern Leaders:
Points: Makenna Yokley - 17
Rebounds: Ava Pautz - 9
Assists: Mackenzie Hart - 3
Steals: Makenna Yokley,
Mackenzie Hart - 3
Blocks: Ryan Franklin,
Veonce Powell,
Makenna Yokley - 1
Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Leaders:
Points: Andrea N. Mendezcolon, Paolo Hernandez-Santiago, Sofia Alvarez - 6
Rebounds: Paolo Hernandez-Santiago - 10
Assists: Paolo Hernandez-Santiago - 1
Steals: Andrea N. Mendezcolon - 3
Blocks: Paolo Hernandez-Santiago, Sofia Alvarez - 1
Up Next:
The Lions will remain in Puerto Rico to compete on day two of the Puerto Rico Clasico on Wednesday, November 27, as they take on Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico at 8:00 AM.
-Lions-
